Chapter 14

The Ningguo Chief Steward Lai Sheng 赖升warns the staff of Xifeng’s hard reputation. Xifeng discusses arrangements with Lai Sheng’s wife and assembles all the married women of Ningguo, assigning them roles, notably more organised than Ningguo normally is, earning Xifeng respect.

On the 35^th day, a particularly important religious day, Xifeng rises at 4 to commence work. She makes an example of one latecomer by giving her twenty lashes, and shouts at servants who present poorly totalled tallies. She earns the fear of the women and servants, and people work efficiently.

Baoyu brings Qin Zhong to Xifeng for a chat. He suggests that someone could forge tallies and fleece them out of money. Baoyu coaxes Xifeng to get the servants to work harder on his study so that he can study at night. A servant arrives with the news that Lin Ruhai has died and is to be buried in Suzhou. Daiyu is to stay permanently.

Xifeng again rises early as the funeral approaches. Zhen deals with monks as Xifeng manages many competing affairs for both Rongguo and Ningguo; she is in her element. Many distinguished guests arrive for the funeral, including the Prince of Beijing 北静王. He watches the procession from the roadside, and asks after the boy born with jade in his mouth, and Baoyu is fetched.